New Tennessee Opiate Abuse Hotline Begins Jan. 1

A new hotline allowing Tennesseans the ability to report possible cases of opioid abuse will go into effect Jan. 1.

Rachael Randolph is the Program Coordinator for the Cumberland County Rise anti-drug coalition. She says although details are uncertain, the hotline will be a much-needed community resource.

“We are all for in support of anything that will help curtail opioid epidemic in our community and our state,” Randolph says. “It obviously has become a huge priority and we are thrilled to see the government doing something more.”

Randolph says having the hotline will help those who see potential opioid abuse have a voice and speak out more often.

“I think any resources that we can have in Cumberland County to control the opioid epidemic will help,” Randolph says, “which I think holds a lot of people back from trying to help somebody because they don’t want to be the one to make that call.”

House Bill 2004 was introduced this past January and signed into law in April. The law requires entities that prescribe, dispense, or handle opioids to have a sign encouraging those who see abuse to call the hotline.

The Tennessee Department of Health’s hotline will then notify appropriate local health-related board or law enforcement officials. Those who report potential cases will be immune from civil liability.